Ford confirms support for customer racers

BRUSSELS, November 2, 2004 - Ford of Europe today revealed a strong
package of motorsport activities and support, which provides its customers
with the opportunity to compete successfully at an affordable budget.
Rallying, touring cars, Formula...

BRUSSELS, November 2, 2004 - Ford of Europe today revealed a strong
package of motorsport activities and support, which provides its customers
with the opportunity to compete successfully at an affordable budget.
Rallying, touring cars, Formula Ford and one-make circuit racing all
feature in Ford's plans after a comprehensive review of its motorsport
strategy.

Jost Capito, Director of Ford TeamRS, the organisation within Ford which co-
ordinates the Company's European motorsport programmes, announced the
details today in Brussels. Both the new Ford Focus and the Ford Fiesta
feature strongly in the package, which has been designed to support the
Company's brand strategy.

Ford Fiesta JWRC to M-Sport

World Championship Rallying, based around the Focus RS WRC, will continue
to be Ford of Europe's headline 'works' motorsport activity through a
strengthened partnership with M-Sport.

This commitment to rallying further extends to the two-wheel drive Ford
Fiesta JWRC. In conjunction with the four-year WRC programme and M-Sport's
WRC customer business, Ford's decision to transfer responsibility for the
Fiesta JWRC to Dovenby Hall is intended to establish M-Sport as Ford's
centre for international rallying.

"We will continue to provide the Fiesta JWRC and Super 1600 cars for
private teams," Capito said. "To ensure that the Fiesta remains
competitive and fulfils its full potential, M-Sport will take over
immediate responsibility for the development of this programme and customer
support. It will be fully integrated into Malcolm Wilson's activities to
guarantee that our customer teams receive the best possible support for
their Fiesta programmes."

New Focus Touring Car for Customer Teams

The new generation Ford Focus is the potential choice for an international
touring car challenger to meet the needs of customer teams.

"Ford products have a long tradition in touring car racing, especially in
Germany, where the abilities of great cars like the Capri, the Sierra,
Mondeo and more recently, the Focus, have been showcased," said Capito.
"We have been following the development of the Super 2000 regulations with
great interest. We see this highly cost-effective category spreading
quickly, to the extent of a formula for a world championship from next year
onwards.

"Therefore Ford is developing a new Ford Focus touring car to meet the
Super 2000 regulations. This car would allow our existing and potential
customer teams to compete in that category at the highest level, with an
affordable budget and a competitive car," he added.

"We plan to provide further details on this programme in the near future,"
Capito commented.

Grassroots Motorsport Commitment

Ford's strategy also extends to the roots of motorsport.

"Ford has not forgotten the grass root motorsport categories, where our
products have been the choice of competitors for many years," Capito said.
"We want to see Formula Ford return to the strength and popularity that
this category had in the past. Therefore, we announced earlier this month
that we will continue our support of the successful Formula Ford UK
Championship into 2005.

"In Germany, the Ford Fiesta ST Cup also has enjoyed huge success, with
grids of more than 30 cars for each race. This series will continue into
2005 for a third season. Furthermore, we are exploring interest elsewhere
in this branch of motorsport, with a view to possibly taking the category
into other countries, both within Europe and further afield."

"There are many more grass roots motorsport activities happening throughout
Europe, via enthusiasts who realise the potential strength and
competitiveness of our cars. Each and every one of those competitors has
our appreciation. I encourage them all to continue with Ford, just as we
continue to develop reliable and dynamic road cars which form such a great
platform for the challenges that arise in motorsport," he said.